I Was A Housewife For 27 Years – At 62 I Moved To Greece Alone

In October 2023, I arrived at Athens International Airport with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes.

Then I took a taxi to the Airbnb that was to be my home at the beginning of my new life abroad. My first impression wasn’t particularly good. The apartment seemed dark, and there was no balcony.

A few nights later, I got up to go to the toilet and stubbed my big toe on the bed. The entire nail came off, and the pain was intense.

Arriving in Athens, I thought I had made a mistake.

At that hour, there was no way I could find a pharmacy. I also had no one I could call. That’s when I truly realized the risk I had taken when I moved to another country.

“Did I make a mistake?” I thought. I felt sorry for myself because I was alone. I cried bitter tears for hours.

My move out of my house in Israel coincided with my divorce and was by no means meticulously planned.

Nevertheless, I needed a new direction. My three children were grown and leading their own lives. I had been a housewife for 27 years. By now, it had gotten to the point where it was basically just “Hello, Mommy, bye, Mommy” as they rushed in and out of the door.

After 27 years as a housewife, I wanted a fresh start.

Yes, raising my wonderful children was an achievement. Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t have much to show for myself.

I had completely dedicated myself to my role as a wife and mother after giving up my job as a mortgage advisor when my son was born.

It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the time with the children. I had waited until I was 34 to have my first child, felt so much love, and didn’t mind staying home without a nanny.

My husband was a successful businessman, and our financial situation was secure. Nevertheless, I found it difficult not having my own income anymore.

The years passed, and eventually I was 62. For some time now, something had been building up inside me. I felt a heaviness in my chest because I wasn’t where I wanted to be. I owned material things like a big car, but I was convinced that I could be happier with much less.

I considered staying for a few more years, until my youngest was in her mid-twenties. But then I would have been 67 or 68. Almost spontaneously, I decided to start a new life in Athens.

I walked up to six miles daily through Athens

I’ve loved Greece ever since I took a cruise off the coast. The people are very friendly. Plus, it’s just a short flight from Tel Aviv. My children can visit me within a day’s travel time.

Nevertheless, it took me almost a year to settle in. The night I injured my toe wasn’t the only time I questioned whether I had done the right thing.

One of the problems was that I couldn’t find an Airbnb where I felt comfortable. I didn’t like living with other people’s furniture after being used to choosing my own.

Instead of staying home, I went for long walks, exploring the neighborhoods. According to my Apple Watch, I walked five or six miles (about eight to ten kilometers) every day.

I had deliberately chosen a big city because, as a single woman, it seemed easier to make friends there. Slowly but surely, I got to know people I enjoyed spending time with, including a couple I met in a café.

One of them lived on the Athenian Riviera, about 25 miles (approximately 40 kilometers) south. He knew I wasn’t entirely comfortable in the city and suggested I look at some apartments near him.

In December 2024, I rented a 1300-square-foot (approximately 121 square meters) three-room apartment, just a short walk from the beach. It was unfurnished, and I decorated it entirely to my liking. I also bought a compact Fiat 500.

Less possessions made me happier

Moving to a smaller apartment was good for me, just as I had imagined. I had never been someone who chased after designer bags or anything like that, but I developed an appreciation for simpler things.

Every morning I swim in the sea and then sit on my balcony, surrounded by lemon trees, while drinking an espresso. These moments are very precious to me.

One of my favorite pastimes is visiting the farmers market around the corner. The food here is fresh and inexpensive. A little over two pounds – about one kilogram – of tomatoes costs less than two dollars (about 1.75 euros).

I met new people through acquaintances and joined several Facebook groups . We meet up for a drink or a meal, and once we even made ravioli together.

Last month I hired a tutor to teach me Greek. It’s complicated because there are ten different words for everything. I told her that I at least want to be able to follow the conversations with my Greek friends.

I recently launched my life coaching business for people over 55 after sharing my journey on Instagram. Women are messaging me and asking how I did it.

I encourage older women to broaden their horizons.

Among them are divorced women, widows, and housewives who long for some freedom. Many are afraid to travel alone or even to eat dinner alone in a restaurant.

You don’t have to make a big change. I don’t tell my clients or followers to break up their marriages, pack their bags, and move to Greece.

I encourage them to broaden their horizons. Perhaps they could start with small steps, like a weekend trip all by themselves. It’s good to experiment. If they don’t like it, they can always go back home.

Older women can pamper and appreciate themselves in every conceivable way.